UN envoy calls for early resumption of six-party talks
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A special UN envoy said in Beijing Friday he called for an early resumption of the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue during his visit to the the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Lynn Pascoe, UN under-secretary-general for political affairs and special envoy of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, described his four-day visit to the DPRK as "useful" after arriving in Beijing from Pyongyang Friday evening.
"The issues discussed include the nuclear issue, the resumption of the six-party talks, DPRK relations with its neighbors and other countries, and UN-DPRK cooperation," Pascoe said.
"On behalf of the secretary-general, I urged strongly that the six-party talks should be resumed without preconditions or further delay," Pascoe said.
During his visit to the DPRK, Pascoe met with President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly Kim Yong Nam and Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun.
Pascoe said the "friendly and frank" discussions with the DPRK officials were based on the UN's role of maintaining international peace and security and laid a basis for further talks.
But Pascoe refused to make further comments about the six-party talks as the UN is not a party in them.
"We are trying to help. We have tried to say what our views are. We have conveyed other people's views, but we certainly are not in the process of the negotiating," Pascoe said.
Pascoe also expressed his concern over the humanitarian programs in the DPRK which are shrinking, saying more help is needed "for the children and average persons."
Pascoe is the first high-level UN official to visit the DPRK since 2004. The visit coincides with a flurry of diplomatic efforts for restarting the stalled six-party talks, which involve China, the DPRK, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan.
The DPRK has rejected a UN resolution to impose wider sanctions for its May 25 nuclear test and withdrew from the six-party talks.
The DPRK Deputy Foreign Minister, Kim Gye-gwan, visited China at the invitation of former Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, the newly-appointed special representative for Korean Peninsular affairs, said ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu on Wednesday.
"The two sides exchanged views on China-DPRK relations, the six-party talks and issues of common concern."
Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, visited the DPRK earlier this week and delivered a letter from Chinese President Hu Jintao to Kim Jong Il, top leader of the DPRK.
While meeting with Wang, Kim reiterated the DPRK's persistent stance of working to realize the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
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